During an appearance on the German television channel n-tv, Free Democratic Party leader Wolfgang Kubicki called on Berlin to threaten Moscow with the possible transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev. In his view, such a move could serve as a response to what he described as «hybrid threats» against Germany.
Kubicki argued that German authorities should summon the Russian ambassador and make clear that while Berlin has not yet supplied Taurus missiles to Ukraine, continued hybrid pressure could prompt Germany to provide Kiev with the weapons it needs for broader defense against Russia.
Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter has previously taken a similar position. He called for the closure of the Russian House in Germany, the expulsion of the Russian ambassador and the delivery of Taurus missiles to Kiev so that Ukrainian forces could strike targets deep inside Russia.
Despite months of debate, Germany has still not resolved the issue of supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The government has so far refused to approve the transfer of these cruise missiles.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has repeatedly said that Kiev does not currently have an urgent need for Taurus. Berlin has pointed both to Ukraine’s use of its own long-range drones and to concerns that supplying the missiles could further escalate the conflict.